Manroland Sheetfed, the German press manufacturer, has entered into ‘protective shield’ (Schutzschirmverfahren) insolvency proceedings, with financial support from parent company Langley Holdings.

The reorganization is taking place within the framework of so-called ‘protective shield’ proceedings – a similar process to Chapter 11 in the USA. Despite a technologically advanced product portfolio, sales at the press manufacturer have declined significantly in recent years with mounting losses.

The decline is primarily due to a sharply shrinking market for printing presses. China, which historically represented around 40% of new press sales, has been hardest hit.

Langley has provided the company with considerable financial support since acquiring the sheetfed division of the former Manroland AG out of insolvency in February 2012.

In its Annual Report & Accounts 2025, the diverse family-owned engineering group announced that losses at Manroland Sheetfed for 2025 alone were €43.2 million. Even so, the group reported a profit before tax for the year of €152.3 million.

Chairman & CEO Anthony Langley stated in his Chairman’s Review, “The board has concluded that the situation [at Manroland Sheetfed] is unsustainable and is currently considering its options”.

Langley adds, “We are conscious, however, that a great many printing businesses, the vast majority of them privately owned SMEs, rely on Manroland presses and it is our goal that whatever solution we ultimately decide upon, the installed base will continue to be supported”

A sustainable reversal of the external factors is not expected in the foreseeable future and a major structural reorientation is needed to enable Manroland Sheetfed to return to profitability, albeit on a much reduced scale.

Under protective shield proceedings, management remains responsible for running the business with a neutral supervisor appointed by the court accompanying the proceedings as an administrator. External restructuring and legal experts from SGP Schneider Geiwitz and BUSE are supporting the management as general representatives.

Alongside corporate restructuring lawyer Peter Fissenewert of BUSE and Oliver Brückner of SGP Schneider Geiwitz, restructuring expert Arndt Geiwitz is one of the general representatives.

Geiwitz said, “I see Manroland Sheetfed has a viable core business. However, we will have to implement drastic and far-reaching measures. Then the restructuring has a chance of success. This is also confirmed by an independent expert opinion.”

Manroland Sheetfed CEO Mirko Kern said, “It is regrettable that a great many jobs will be lost but I call upon the workers council and the unions to co-operate with what we and restructuring experts have concluded are the necessary measures to arrive at a viable business and preserve the remaining positions.”